Smart Textiles

October 2019

Virgin Galactic Partners with Under Armour to Unveil the World’s First Exclusive Spacewear System for Private Astronauts as Virgin heads toward commercial operations in 2020.

Virgin Galactic CEO Richard Branson and models showing the full range of Spacewear system 

collaboratively designed with sportswear brand Under Armour.

The new spacewear system follows this mantra, informing fabric choice, structure and fit.  Temperature management, for example, is regulated by performance fibers and knit density, mapped to the body to provide perfect warmth and moisture management, while preventing overheating or chilling. 

Photo from Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic photo.

Virgin Galactic and Under Armour unveiled the collaboratively designed Spacewear system in New York two weeks ago for Virgin Galactic astronauts, comprising a base layer, spacesuit, footwear, training suit and Limited Edition astronaut jacket.  It is the first such collection ever created specifically for private astronauts.

As every element of the Virgin Galactic customer journey is designed to enrich the profound and transformative qualities of the human spaceflight experience, according to the CEOs of both companies, the design of astronaut apparel requires a unique combination of comfort and utility matched by the ultimate focus on unique, life-changing customer experience. 

“Virgin Galactic gave us an exciting challenge to build the world’s first commercial spacesuit,” said Kevin Plank, founder and CEO of Under Armour. “Innovation is at the core of everything we do and our team delivered a unique twist on the classic spacesuit utilizing both existing and new UA technologies to define space gear for the future.  It is an incredible opportunity to showcase our key performance innovations in space at the highest level and continue to push the limits of human performance.”

From the initial brief through to final fabrication, the suit design concepts were defined through inputs from a wide variety of experts, including doctors, astronaut trainers, pilots, apparel and footwear designers, engineers and Future Astronaut customers, to fully understand and address all requirements.   

Safety is Virgin Galactic’s North Star and underlined the choice of materials and other key design considerations. Richard Branson said: “Spacesuits are a part of the iconography of the first space age; our visual impressions of human spaceflight and what astronauts wear are inextricably linked. Requirements for astronaut spacewear as we enter the second space age are evolving, but the design challenge has not diminished. We were delighted when Kevin and Under Armour stepped up to this task and they have surpassed our expectations. I love the way the spacewear looks and I love the way it feels. I also love the fact that the next time I put it on, I will be on my way to space.”

March 2019

At Premiere Vision in Paris, ROICA™  experts showcased the world's first ROICA™  Eco-Smart Family comprising 2 responsibly-made yarns: a GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified yarn and the world's first yarn awarded Cradle2Cradle Material Health Gold Level Certificate and the Hohenstein Environment compatibility certification.  A Unique range of ROICA™  Eco-Smart Family based fabrics were displayed in the booth, presenting the world's first responsibly=made premium stretch fibres giving rise to ROICA™  smart yarns that offer sustainable solutions with relevant certifications:

• Global Recycled Standard (GRS) owned by Textile Exchange - ROICA™ EF constructed out with more than 50% pre-consumer recycled content.
• Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold Level for Material Health product and ingredients - ROICA™ V550 yarn evaluated throughout the supply chain for lower impact on human and environmental health. Striving toward eliminating all toxic and unidentified chemicals for a safe continuous cycle. Hohenstein Environment Compatibility Certificate - ROICA™ V550 proudly breaks down without releasing harmful substances.

Asahi Kasei presented the Bemberg™ heritage that delivers a true precious uniqueness through responsible smart innovation and transparency. 

Mia long sleeve T-shirt by Ecoalf made out of Bemberg™

• The vegan habotai fabrics presented by Ipeker, the company that proudly holds the record as the first vegan fabric producer in the world, receiving Vegan V-Label certificate on 146 different products that stick to the guidelines of the European Vegetarian Label, many of which developed with Bemberg™.
• An exclusive development by Ipeker, made with a unique Bemberg™ - ROICA™ EF yarn created by the Italian premium throwster Ghezzi. ROICA™ EF, that belongs to the ROICA Eco-Smart™ family, is a Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified ROICA™ stretch yarn constructed with more than 50% pre-consumer recycled content.
• A premium material created by Uboldi, made peculiar by two different finishing processes: Front side finished with Velutine™ and the back side is a laminated fabric from Uboldi.

February 2019

TINTEX Presents “UNO” Innovations Premiere Vision Paris 

The new S/S 2020 collection starts from the concept of “UNO”: a full Naturally Advanced offer that is gathered together under one emblematic cultural standard, one that refers to unity as a result of the revolutionary generation in a society that embraces uniqueness and differentiation. UNO stands for unification, cross-fertilization, inclusion, just like an orchestra playing in concert with the same purpose. It is the perfect chance to discover a range of unique developments that truly embody the company’s identity, balancing responsible innovation and creativity. Smart ingredients take the lead being enhanced by the TINTEX unique dyeing and finishing expertise.

Jersey by TINTEX Textiles made with GRS certified ECOTEC® and GRS certified ROICA™ EF premium smart stretch

Starting from the “UNO is…embrace yourself” concept, a unique range of natural fibres are blended with technical qualities for new levels of wellbeing performance. Shirt structures, timeless jerseys and interlocks are born from the transformed polyamide Q-NOVA® by Fulgar with excellent moisture control, and from SeaCell™, that embodies the unique properties of seaweed combined with the unique ROICA™ CF (Clean Fit), a unique odor neutralizing premium stretch yarn by Asahi Kasei.

And continuing with idea that “UNO is…starting a revolution”, where the main characters are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton fabrics and ECOTEC® by Marchi&Fildi yarns saving up to 77.9% in water consumption in comparison to conventional cotton*. And more stretch performance is brought to the next level with GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified ROICA™ EF responsible stretch yarn. Experiencing the “UNO is…working together” selection, you will be able to discover the value of a positive group revolution. TENCEL™ Lyocell, together with REFIBRA™ by Lenzing and advanced Newlife™ continuous filaments, deliver a feeling of comfort and softness. In terms of the stretch component, the choice is ROICA™ V550, a premium stretch boasting the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold Level for Material Health product and ingredients and the Hohenstein Environment Compatibility Certificate as, at its end of life, it breaks down without releasing harmful substances.

Last year, TINTEX's fabric innovations included a range of more than 80 qualities and styles designed for the Sportswear, Athleisure, Fashion and Underwear market sectors. The collection focusses on three jersey fabric concepts: TIMELESS, FASHIONABLE & INNOVATIVE.

TINTEX is a modern industrial company based in the Porto region of Portugal since 1998, producing market savvy fabrics for global designers and brands. 

Its sustainable range of precision and modern hybrid jersey fabrics on offer includes products that won the ISPO Best Product Award (SOFT EQUIPMENT category) in TexTrends for fall winter 19/20, that maintain and upgrade the honest but hi-tech sustainable organics that is at the heart of the TINTEX DNA to create better, smarter eco-materials, always with new levels of performance and hi-tech smarts, thanks to its expertise in specialist dyeing and finishing techniques, coatings and applications. These are all researched, designed and made using the latest equipment and processes. 

This season the new TINTEX collection plays with new colour balance techniques that deploy the benefits of chromotherapy for wellbeing alongside skin safe materials and finishings.

The collection uses up to 90% of new smart and sustainable materials and include: Tencel, Modal & Micromodal, Organic Cottons, Supima cottons, Seacell fibres, Natural organic linens and the new, full colour ECOTEC® yarns by Marchi & Fildi, a smarter cotton made from pre-consumer clippings that in manufacture save up to 79% water. 

This season TINTEX is also introducing the new ECOTEC® yarn Phoenix (50% ECOTEC®, 50% recycled polyester, NM1/50 GRS-certified) for open, light and dry textures. Wellbeing credentials are guaranteed with Tessile e Salute certifications, TINTEX also presents new developments using the ROICA™ Eco Smart family of ecosustainable stretch yarns with certificated credentials. This family of yarns claim the world-first GRS certified ROICA™ premium stretch yarn that comes at least 50% from recycled pre-consumer waste.

The newest introduction for second skin qualities and for products to the athleisure market within TINTEX collection is ROICA™ Feel Good family that promises a new level of performance with ‘feelgood comfort’ and freshness.

For colouration effects, we can use the ROICA™ Colour Perfect family of yarns to create a flawless and responsible finish to dyed performance stretch assortments. Colours to Tranquilize, to Activate the Senses, to Recharge, to Energize.

Schoeller’s heated e-soft–shell wins Special Prize

A shining example of how technology and design work interact: early in November 2017, Swiss company Schoeller Textil AG from the Rhine Valley won the prestigious Design Preis Schweiz 2017/18 in the textile category. 

E-soft-shell is a heated fabric which can be cut to size without affecting the embedded technology and is primarily suited to clothing for outdoor activities and motorcycling.  With this innovation, the  company picked up the award for Excellent Swiss Design in the textile category on 3 November, 2017 in Langenthal. Together with the whole Schoeller team, the Schoeller delegation was represented by Roland Lottenbach (Head of Research and Development, left), Dagmar Signer (Marketing, centre) and Ruedi Kühne (CFO, right) - who received the award 

E-soft-shell by the meter

The Design Preis jury commented as follows on the Schoeller development: Electrically heated clothing which makes it possible for us to stay pleasantly warm in winter has long been a dream of the textiles industry. Projects in this field have hardly made it beyond the development and trial phase hitherto. But now Schoeller Textil has created E-soft-shell, a material that makes this utopia a reality. E-soft-shell is a laminate consisting of bi-elastic tissue, machined lining and a functional corkshell coating. The heating technology is integrated with the fabric in a diamond-shaped geometrical pattern. It is based on metallic yarns, making it possible for the material to be evenly heated at standard voltages. The fabric is designed to be sold off the roll, and can be cut up without affecting the embedded technology. It is suitable above all as clothing for outdoor activities or motor cycling – but applications in the fashion or wellness worlds could also come into consideration.

TINTEX presents high-tech fabrics with unique technical qualities during Performance Days, Munich, November 8-9 2017

TINTEX - a modern industrial company based in the Porto region of Portugal since 1998 - is set to present its latest high-tech fabric innovations at the Performance Days – the trade fair specifically for functional fabrics in Munich, November 8-9 2017 – featuring fashion forward developments that meet the active performance demands of the current athleisure and street sportswear markets.

With more than 120 skilled and expert staff producing market savvy fabrics for global designers and brands, TINTEX produces a range of sustainable modern hybrid jersey fabrics that offer a better, Naturally Advanced choice to all its customers in the Sportswear, Athleisure, Fashion and Underwear sectors.

Each collection counts more than 80 new qualities and styles, under three focused jersey fabric concepts: TIMELESS, FASHIONABLE, INNOVATIVE.

TINTEX's new Autumn Winter 2019 Jersey collection will be presented by its CEO Mario Jorge, who describes the new ‘Naturally Advanced’ position as “advancing beautiful and organic, natural materials to the next level with unique and advanced hybrid ‘nature/hi-tech’ smarts, with added value creativity, thanks to focused investments that will serve and secure our customer demands both now and in the seasons to come”.

Mr Jorge added that part and parcel of the TINTEX DNA is to make better eco-materials, but with new levels of performance and hi-tech smarts, thanks to its expertise in specialist dyeing and finishing techniques, coatings and applications designed with the latest equipment and processes. 

The TINTEX collection uses at least 60% of more sustainable materials such as Tencel, organic cotton, natural organic linen, ECOTEC® by Marchi & Fildi, the smart cotton from pre consumer scraps that saves up to 77,9% of water.

And, for the first time at Performance Days, TINTEX presents unique developments made with the ROICA™ Eco Smart family of premium eco-sustainable stretch fibers with proven credentials for market savvy choices that meet the needs of contemporary apparel for modern consumers.  Within this family, TINTEX has selected the world's first GRS certified ROICA™ premium stretch yarn that comes at least 50% from recycled pre-consumer waste.